- Santander UK announces a new initiative as part of its five-year partnership with UK National Parks to support the restoration of nature across some of the country’s most-loved landscapes.
- The bank will support the GrubsUp! project to restore habitats for pollinators along scenic North Yorkshire route.
- Since 2021, Santander and National Parks have been working together on the Net Zero with Nature1 initiative to highlight how nature restoration can help address climate-related issues and protect the economy2.
A new project that will restore and connect vital wildlife sites surrounding one of North Yorkshire’s most scenic roads is now underway along the southern edge of the North York Moors National Park.
Linking Thirsk to Scarborough, the busy A170 winds its way through market towns and quaint villages and passes stunning woodland, pasture and farmland. Now, in a drive to connect these spaces, not just for people but for nature and wildlife too, new ‘insect super-highways’ will be created and cared for as part of GrubsUp!
The two-year project has received funding from Santander UK as part of the bank’s continued support of the UK’s protected landscapes and collaboration with National Parks Partnerships (NPP). Covering nearly 200 square miles, the project area focusses on a stretch of the Tabular Hills to the north of the A170, reaching Helmsley Moor in the west and Levisham and Dalby Forest in the east.
Holly Ramsden, GrubsUp Project Officer at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “Insect populations have seen alarming declines in abundance and species richness, to the point where nearly all of us have noticed a drop in butterflies visiting our gardens, less moths around streetlights and far fewer insects on our cars than there once were.
“These invertebrates are crucial to a healthy ecosystem, acting as important food sources for birds and small mammals. Pollinating insects also play a vital role in crop yield and quality and allow plants to produce fruit, seeds and new growth. This helps to keep our air clean, as during this process plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.”
GrubsUp! collaborates with farmers, landowners, and local communities to protect and restore habitats for invertebrates. This will include planting native hedgerows, restoring grasslands and creating ponds and wetlands. It will also involve the enhancement of road verges and other community-managed green spaces, all aimed at boosting biodiversity and ensuring that insects can move between sites.
The project will seek long-term agreements to manage the newly created habitats, ensuring that the benefits continue far beyond the initial restoration work. Community members and volunteers will also play a key role, helping to create wildlife-rich spaces and gaining skills in monitoring the ongoing impact of the work.
Andrew Wilson, Director of Communications, Marketing and Responsible Banking at Santander UK said: “Tackling climate change through the preservation of nature and biodiversity is a key element of our sustainability strategy at Santander UK. Protecting the wildlife and nature around us is not only vital in the fight against climate change, but for the economy too, with more than half of global GDP dependent on it.
“That’s why I’m delighted that we are continuing to develop our partnership with UK National Parks, which started in 2021. We believe that partnerships are invaluable in connecting a diverse group of stakeholders to help us learn, progress and drive real change together across our communities, our customers and our people. The new collaboration to help restore vital wildlife along North Yorkshire scenic routes is a great way to connect with the community and deliver real impact to support our environment.”
GrubsUp! is the third project3 to come out of the Santander and UK National Parks “Net Zero with Nature” initiative to restore vital nature and support biodiversity in the UK.
To find out more about nature recovery in the North York Moors National Park and how you can help, please visit northyorkmoors.org.uk/nature-recovery-hub.
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Notes to editors
- More information about the Net Zero with Nature initiative: Santander becomes a Founding Partner for National Parks nature restoration initiative - 'Net Zero with Nature' | Santander UK
- Aldersgate Group, 2024. Link: Why Nature Matters for Business - Aldersgate Group
- More information about Santander’s support for the development of a nature financing platform in the Lake District National Park: National Parks UK and Santander UK announce expansion of partnership for nature restoration | Santander UK
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. At 30 June 2024, the bank had around 19,600 employees and serves around 14 million active customers, including 7 million digital customers via a nationwide 444 branch network, telephone, mobile and online banking. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the FCA and the PRA in the UK. Santander UK plc customers’ eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS in the UK.
Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC.LN) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain and one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Digital Consumer Bank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments (PagoNxt and Cards). This operating model allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Banco Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Banco Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising €220 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2030. In the first quarter of 2024, Banco Santander had €1.3 trillion in total funds, 166 million customers, 8,400 branches and 211,000 employees.
The North York Moors National Park
The North York Moors is a beautiful landscape of stunning moorland, ancient woodland and historic sites. Created on 28 November 1952, it became Britain’s sixth national park. Covering an area of 554 square miles (1,436 square kilometres) the National Park has 26 miles of coastline, two national nature reserves, 840 Scheduled Monuments and over 3,000 listed buildings, attracting an estimated 8.4 million visitors a year.
The National Park has two visitor centres, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre, providing opportunities for cycling, walking, eating, picnicking, shopping, crafts and wildlife-watching. The centre in Danby also houses the Inspired by… gallery, which features regularly changing exhibitions by artists who draw their inspiration from the North York Moors.
The North York Moors National Park Authority works with a wide variety of people to care for this beautiful corner of Yorkshire, providing apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities with nearly 14% of staff being apprentices from local families.
National Parks Partnerships (NPP)
National Parks Partnerships (NPP) unites companies, investors, and environmental funders with all 15 UK National Parks to drive positive change for people, nature, and climate. Spanning the iconic landscapes of the Peak District, Lake District, Eryri, Dartmoor, Pembrokeshire Coast, North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Exmoor, Northumberland, Bannau Brycheiniog, The Broads, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, Cairngorms, New Forest, and South Downs, NPP operates at a national level to foster partnerships that enhance and protect these vital natural areas.
Since its inception in 2016, NPP has formed impactful partnerships with leading global brands, including BMW UK, Santander UK, and Estée Lauder Companies UK & Ireland. NPP’s comprehensive approach identifies and develops key projects in need of support, offering diverse opportunities such as deploying green finance through the Revere: Investing in Nature initiative with Palladium, to supporting innovative nature-based solutions that preserve and restore biodiversity, to staff engagement, joint marketing campaigns, in-kind contributions, and thought leadership. By aligning with both global and UK-based brands, NPP creates bespoke partnerships that deliver meaningful, lasting impact in National Parks and surrounding communities.
Find out more at: www.nationalparks.uk/national-parks-partnerships or follow NPP on LinkedIn.